When the San Jose Sharks defeated the Detroit Red Wings in last year?s conference semi-finals, the online sports betting media was quick to rule the win off as an aberration that was mainly due to a significant amount of injuries to the defending Western conference champions. After all, the Sharks had repeatedly choked when it mattered the most in the past, and that year was no different with a couple of favorable matchups paving their way to the west finals. Fast-forward one year and although San Jose lost to the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks a year ago, they have shown the type of resiliency and determination to make many a believer that this team could finally be the one that breaks through and goes all the way.
The Sharks have taken the first two games from the Red Wings by identical 2-1 scores, although the first came in overtime. San Jose has managed to slow down a Detroit offense that looked dominant against the Phoenix Coyotes in the only series sweep of the opening round, and timely scoring has elevated them to within two games of another trip to the Western conference finals. Antti Niemi has been solid after struggling with inconsistencies in the opening round against the Los Angeles Kings, and was the first star in Sunday?s win at the HP Pavillion with 33 saves. Goals from a couple of unlikely heroes made the difference with Ian White and Niclas Wallin both getting on the board after combining for just seven markers all season. Those contributions have been key throughout these playoffs, and the numbers don?t lie when analyzing why San Jose has been so good.
Winger Ryan Clowe and rookie Logan Couture lead the Sharks in points with nine and seven respectively, ahead of team captain Jose Thornton and veteran scorers such as Patrick Marleau and Danny Heatley. White has surpassed Dan Boyle in terms of points among defenseman, and his plus-six is tied with another unlikely hero in Kyle Wellwood as the best on the team. San Jose has found ways to win games even when they have struggled at times, and as long as Niemi can continue to perform consistently in goal the Sharks will be hard to stop and could leave the MLB betting Tigers as Detroit?s lone hope this spring.
The Red Wings on the other hand head back home to Michigan looking for answers, with head coach Mike Babcock considering some line changes to get his offense going. Jimmy Howard has looked solid in goal despite a couple of soft goals in the playoffs, but Detroit hasn?t been able to score goals. That could lead to him breaking up the top line of Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, and they will need more from a key playoff performer in Johan Franzen who has really struggled. Time will tell if Detroit can do enough to turn this series around at home and get the job done, but it won?t be easy as the Sharks continue to prove they are ready to go all the way with the 2011 Kentucky derby betting race right around the corner.
The Sharks have taken the first two games from the Red Wings by identical 2-1 scores, although the first came in overtime. San Jose has managed to slow down a Detroit offense that looked dominant against the Phoenix Coyotes in the only series sweep of the opening round, and timely scoring has elevated them to within two games of another trip to the Western conference finals. Antti Niemi has been solid after struggling with inconsistencies in the opening round against the Los Angeles Kings, and was the first star in Sunday?s win at the HP Pavillion with 33 saves. Goals from a couple of unlikely heroes made the difference with Ian White and Niclas Wallin both getting on the board after combining for just seven markers all season. Those contributions have been key throughout these playoffs, and the numbers don?t lie when analyzing why San Jose has been so good.
Winger Ryan Clowe and rookie Logan Couture lead the Sharks in points with nine and seven respectively, ahead of team captain Jose Thornton and veteran scorers such as Patrick Marleau and Danny Heatley. White has surpassed Dan Boyle in terms of points among defenseman, and his plus-six is tied with another unlikely hero in Kyle Wellwood as the best on the team. San Jose has found ways to win games even when they have struggled at times, and as long as Niemi can continue to perform consistently in goal the Sharks will be hard to stop and could leave the MLB betting Tigers as Detroit?s lone hope this spring.
The Red Wings on the other hand head back home to Michigan looking for answers, with head coach Mike Babcock considering some line changes to get his offense going. Jimmy Howard has looked solid in goal despite a couple of soft goals in the playoffs, but Detroit hasn?t been able to score goals. That could lead to him breaking up the top line of Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, and they will need more from a key playoff performer in Johan Franzen who has really struggled. Time will tell if Detroit can do enough to turn this series around at home and get the job done, but it won?t be easy as the Sharks continue to prove they are ready to go all the way with the 2011 Kentucky derby betting race right around the corner.
